Whale carcass at Kleinkrantz

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The carcass of the whale that has washed out on Kleinkrantz beach had been buried in November last year above the high-water mark, according to SANParks Wilderness Park Manager Sandra Taljaard.

She said it is the first time that it was washed open by the sea and it happened because of the abnormally high sea levels experienced recently.

There are various aspects that are considered when whales wash up onto the beach, for example their size and the location of the carcass.

"Often the most suitable method of dealing with the carcass is to bury it in a suitable place above the high-water mark. In other instances it is cut up and removed to a place where it is burned. Sometimes the pieces are burned on the rocks in a remote area near the sea. In some cases the carcass is left on the beach to decay naturally, if it is in a remote area far away from humans."

Taljaard said the carcass at Kleinkrantz was recorded by Bayworld Oceanarium in Gqeberha by one of their representatives in Sedgefield who monitors the beaching of whales in this area. It was their request to bury the whale so that they could recover the skeleton after a period.

"It has not decayed completely. A significant amount of its skin layer still covers the skeleton."

She said the carcass will be reburied during low tide, out of reach of the sea.

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